No trades does not a consistent team make

[swansrob]

By the time the trade ban is lifted, Goodes, Shaw, Pyke and maybe Richards will all have retired, leaving us a nice little nest egg that we'll have been banned from spending on players, that we can then use to nab the biggest name free agent that year and thumb our noses at the league. Then go on to win the flag.

[WauchopeAnalyst]

By the time the trade ban is lifted, Goodes, Shaw, Pyke and maybe Richards will all have retired, leaving us a nice little nest egg that we'll have been banned from spending on players, that we can then use to nab the biggest name free agent that year and thumb our noses at the league. Then go on to win the flag.

For this to work HEENEY, JONES, NANKERVIS and the best of the rest, BJ, HEWETT, NEWMAN, RICHARDS, ROSE, MILLS? and others have to get real game time to allow the development of each player. Not all at one time, but we need to try and give the best kids a run. Unfortunately a lot of injuries for this to happen..or older players playing poorly, most weeks, still gets more games. BIRD is not on of those.

[S.S. Bleeder]

As harmful as the trade restrictions may be proving to be (this year especially), surely it will leave us in a fairly strong position potentially at the end of 2016. It is what it is sadly - it is ridiculous policy from the AFL, but they have clearly shown in recent years that they are like a political party - reactive to the latest fads going around. We will see it again at the end of the season when they come up with a bunch of changes to try and combat 'congestion', when proper application of the proper rules (in particular the HTB rule) would solve the issue without major rule changes.

Why will it leave us in a strong position at the end of 2016? I keep hearing this but fail to see it. I think you're reasoning is that by failing to recruit players from other clubs will result in a surplus to spend at the end of the ban? I think you're forgetting that we will have 9.8% less to spend by then.

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Since the trade ban story broke, just before the grand final, we have never been the same since. I think the injustice of it has killed morale on and off the field.

+1. I've been thinking that too. Too much of a coincidence if you ask me. It was also coincidental that the AFL notified us in GF week. Couldn't they wait a few more days?

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By the time the trade ban is lifted, Goodes, Shaw, Pyke and maybe Richards will all have retired, leaving us a nice little nest egg that we'll have been banned from spending on players, that we can then use to nab the biggest name free agent that year and thumb our noses at the league. Then go on to win the flag.

Goodes used to be on big bucks but I would doubt that he is at the moment. Shaw, Pyke and Richards would all be on below average wages.

[redsox]

Nice rant redsox.
What precisely has Mitchell done recently to show he is 'under the pump' - or are you like Longmire, who seems to point the finger at him the first time anything goes wrong (what a ridiculous decision to make him sub yesterday).

Not just Mitchell. I think the swans moved towards a "recruit" the best and has come at the expense of a tried and proven "develop" the best. As a result some of the players ranked 23-28 on the list don't seem up to it.

I think the Sydney swans got ahead of themselves in response to the Giants arrival.

It almost paid the jackpot last year. But a quarter of the cap on two players means trouble. A strategy the cats have avoided ( but look set to abandon Danger-rously)

I genuinely love the idea of bloods. 2012 was the best exhibit. The step towards the tippet and buddy appears to be a step away from that.

[bloodspirit]

Average wages include the wages of all the senior listed ressies players doesn't it? In that case I very much doubt that Richards is on below average. Wouldn't even be confident in the case of the other two S.S.Bleeder nominated, Shaw and Pyke.

[707]

Are we in contention this year? On recent performances maybe not. But lets look at the longer view.

Disposal aside, we have one of the best midfields going around and next year Heeney will be more full time mid and Mills would appear to be a high quality mid who like Heeney this year may play from R1. Our midfield is also relatively young so we are set for the long term without needing a big injection of new mids. Josh Dunkley may also be recruited. With a locked in midfield we can work on other deficiencies.

Once the trade ban is off and with no obvious academy targets for next year and with a likely bit of cap space, in the 2016 trade period we can target specific types of players to fix our known problems, ruck, small forward, KPD. As a long shot bonus, AJ may be back for 2017.

So maybe a couple of years a little further down the ladder but with more valuable ND picks to trade with and still a desirable destination club for targets.